54 CARTER, A'ofes on Some AustraUan Birds. Pi^^ff^T 



licle. 'i'his conspicuou>ness in colour probabl}- oust the male 

 bird liis life, as he suddenly disappeared. 



In conclusion, there are two factors that may be the cause of 

 this variation in G. f/77iVr», cross-breeding with G. Icnconota. and 

 variation under nature. 



The writer's opinion is that it is purely a natural variation, 

 whereby in one locality the typical birds when mated ])erpetuate 

 a greater percentage of their ])rogeny true to type ; whilst in 

 other localities, these variations are in evidence, and that a 

 "zvJiitc-backed" bird seen associated with a "black-backetl" or 

 partial '"black-backed" bird may be purely a variation of G. 

 iibiccii, as in Fig. E, anil not a (/'. leuconota species, as in Fig. F. 



The following nieasurements are taken from the birds 

 figured : — 



A. — Total length, inches — 15.3; wing. 11.25; bill. 2.1 ; tarsus. 2. 

 B. — Total length, inches — 15.8; wing. 10.8: bill. 2.1 : tarsus. 2.5. 

 C. — Total length, inchc- — 13.5: win^'. 10.7; l)ill. i.<>; tarsus,. 



2.2. 

 D. — Total length, inches — 15.5; wing. 11 : bill. 2.^; tarsus, 2.2, 

 E. — Total length, inches. 13.5: wing. 11 ; hiil. 2; tarsus. 2.3. 

 F. — Total length, inches — 16; wing. 10.73; l)ill. 2.23: tarsus. 



2.2. 



Remarks and Notes on some Western 

 Australian Birds 



By TOM CARTER, R.A.O.U., Sutton, England. 



On page 123 in The Emu, vol. xx., Part 3 (January, 1921)^ 

 Mr. Ashby states that the Bristle-Bird (Sphemtra Uttoralis) was 

 locally known at Ellensbrook as the "Rain-bird." It was the 

 Coachwhip Bird {Psophodes >i'u/ro(/ularis) that was so called, as 

 stated by Mr. Milligan in his paper, 71ie Emu, vol. ii., p. 72. 

 When I was staying at Ellensbrook in November, 1902 (vide 

 TJie Emu, vol. iii., p. 38-K)), Miss Bussell referred to the Black- 

 throated Coachwhip-Bird, in conversation with me. as the Rain- 

 bird, and said how much she missed hearing certain notes uttered 

 by this bird, that invariably foretold rain. Page 123-24, Mr. 

 Ashby expresses surprise at finding that Mallee Fowl {Leipoa 

 ocellata) breeds at Cape Naturaliste, and surmises that birds 

 from that locality may prove to be a good sub-species. Mr. G. 

 M. Mathews classes the Western Australian Lcipoas as one 

 species. These interesting birds have been well known (locally) 

 to breed all along that coast, and past the Ca]>c l.eeuwin. to at 



